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Associate Director of Research and Evaluation
Arlington, United States
We believe every person deserves to age well. That’s why we’re on a path to improve the lives of 40 million older adults by 2030. Come join an awesome team and learn about the work we do, the people we serve, and why equitable aging matters now more than ever. At NCOA, we represent the interests of the aging population across the nation, while striving to live out our core values of equity, excellence, and innovation. This is meaningful work where we put “people first” and our employees can learn and grow, where work/life balance is prioritized, and have a flexible hybrid work schedule while being part of a dynamic, collaborative team.
We are interested in growing our team with passionate, committed, and innovative individuals. The Associate Director of Research and Evaluation will join NCOA at a time of dynamic growth.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Associate Director of Research & Evaluation will play a critical role in designing, implementing, and disseminating research and evaluation efforts that inform strategy, demonstrate impact, and generate actionable insights to advance the health and economic security of older adults. The incumbent will serve as a subject matter expert in applied research, economic evaluation, and complex data analysis. This position will lead rigorous research studies—including cost-benefit and return-on-investment analyses—leverage large and linked datasets, and co-lead NCOA’s enterprise-wide learning agenda. In collaboration with the Senior Director, they will also support strategic partnerships, oversee technical quality, contribute to business development, and mentor junior staff.
Positions at this level typically report to a director or senior director and require advanced knowledge and experience as well as some management capabilities. Incumbents are required to make independent judgements within their scope of work and require minimal oversight. Incumbents generally have five or more years of experience in their discipline and a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent, as well as substantive experience at this level. Graduate level degrees may be considered in lieu of experience.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
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Research & Evaluation Leadership
- Lead complex, mixed-methods research and evaluation studies aligned with NCOA’s strategic goals.
- Design and oversee implementation research, quasi-experimental studies, and economic evaluations (e.g., cost-effectiveness, ROI).
- Co-lead the execution of NCOA’s learning agenda and provide guidance on key research priorities.
- Ensure high standards for research ethics, methodology, and reporting.
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Data Analysis & Dissemination
- Conduct advanced statistical and econometric analyses using large-scale datasets (e.g., administrative claims, survey data, etc).
- Oversee data visualization products (e.g., dashboards, Tableau charts, PowerBI dashboards) and contribute to reports, white papers, and peer-reviewed manuscripts.
- Lead or support abstracts, presentations, and manuscripts for conferences and academic outlets.
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Technical Assistance & Collaboration
- Provide strategic and technical guidance to grantees participating in research/evaluation components of NCOA initiatives (e.g., Innovation Lab).
- Troubleshoot data quality issues and coordinate with grantees to ensure timely and accurate data reporting.
- Manage data sharing processes, including data use agreements and requests.
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Capacity Building & Proposal Development
- Mentor junior research staff and guide professional development.
- Contribute to grant proposals, evaluation plans, logic models, and measurement frameworks.
- Collaborate cross-functionally across NCOA to embed data and evaluation in program strategy.
- Provide leadership through influence and, as business needs evolve, take on direct people management responsibilities, including mentoring, coaching, and developing team members.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Public Policy, Public Health, Statistics, or a related quantitative discipline required. Graduate degree (Master’s or PhD) preferred.
- A minimum of five (5) years of experience designing and leading applied research and evaluation projects, preferably in nonprofit, academic, or public-sector settings.
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Proven expertise in:
- Economic evaluation (cost-benefit analysis, ROI modeling, cost-effectiveness)
- Analyzing large and complex datasets (e.g., national surveys, administrative data, EHR)
- Advanced statistical techniques and econometrics (e.g., regression modeling, difference-in-differences, RCTs, matching techniques)
- Demonstrated ability to translate research into practice and communicate findings to technical and non-technical audiences.
- Experience designing and administering surveys and facilitating qualitative research activities, including data analysis.
- Proficiency in statistical software (e.g., Stata, R) and familiarity with qualitative analysis platforms (e.g., Atlas.ti, NVivo, Dedoose).
- Experience with survey design and implementation; qualitative data collection and analysis a plus.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present data findings clearly and concisely to different audiences.
- Strong project management skills.
- A collaborative, responsive, and flexible teamwork approach with the ability to prioritize and manage concurrent projects, sometimes with tight deadlines.
- Familiarity with aging issues, health and economic equity, and public benefits programs a plus.
- Experience working in or with nonprofit organizations is preferred.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Frequently required to sit or use a standing desk.
- Occasionally required to walk.
- Occasionally required to reach with hands and arms.
- Frequently required to talk or listen.
- Occasionally required to bend, lift or climb stairs.
- Occasionally required to lift light weights (less than 25 pounds).
WORK ENVIRONMENT
- The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
SELECTION PROCESS
We only accept applications that follow the electronic process. No phone calls please. This position is subject to background screening.
NCOA offers generous benefits, including:
- Medical, Dental, Vision, STD, LTD insurances
- Paid vacation, sick, and other types of leave
- 403(b) Retirement plan
- Hybrid remote work options
- And more!
NCOA is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer
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